Toy electric railway



// www?? June .7, 1927. 1,631,245

x.. CARUSO y TOY ELECTRIC RAILWAY Filed May e, 1925 2 sheds-'sheet 1 /f n. 5 m l' "HCL 'l u GML INVENTOR BY l Si ATTORNEY Patentea June 7, A 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

LoUIs'oARUso, or IRvrNGToN, NEW JERSEY, AssIGNoR To THELIONEI. coRroRA TIoN, E NEW YoRx, N. Y., n CORPORATION orl NEW YORK.)

TOY ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

ways.

One object of the invention 1s the provi@ sion of an electric toy railway having improved means for automatically stopplng and restarting a train at any desired point along thefline, which means may be readily installed and employed with the standard track sections now commonly in use for electrical toy railways.

' Another object of the invention 1s the provision of a toy railway of the character de? scribed, which is simple in construction, easy theV train may'bestopped and restarted audio-f* matically and such Vchanges in train'operato set up and disassemble, inexpensive to manufacture, and practicalto a high degree.V

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for automatically stopping'and restartingthe train of an electric toy railway not requiring any movable elementsin the tracks for the operation or control thereof. vf

' The invention also contemplates the provision in connection with the vautomatic stopping and. restarting means of improved signaling devices. operating' committently with said means for' indicating the train operation.

San, further object fue iri'yenan-is the changes in the provision of an improved meansof character described in the k'form of a compactunitary device yto serve vasa detachable ac'g cessory adapted to`be applied toa toy 'track so asV to convertthe system into one in which` tion simultaneously signaled.

p Other objects .of this invention will in part beobvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.` f v- The invention. accordingly v'consists in the .features of construction,l combinations of ele# ments and arrangement of parts which will be exempliiedI in the construction herein# after described, and of which. the scope of application will be indicated in the following. claims."

In the accompanying -drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention, A

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewy of a toy railway. installation embodying the invention with portions thereofl shown-diagrammati- Applicationled -Iay 8,

This invention relates to toy electric rail- 111g System and afsectional view of the auto- 'InostaticfV control 22,'1 23, ,said

192'5. serial No. 28,763.A

e "I l F o l l Flg. 2 1s a dlagrammatic vlew ofthe w11'- matic control device;

Figg is anelevational view showing` the` rear side of the, control device panel; and

Figs 4 and xare plan views of the rear slde of control device panels showing modified v arrangements whereby thermostatic heaters adapted to operate on various ranges of voltages may be selectively switched into Well known manner and supplied with power from any suitable supply source (not shown) through conductor wires 12. The track comprises preferably a plurality 'of standard track' sections adapted to be 'joined by means of a pinV and socket connection in the wellA known manner as shown in Fig. 6'at 14. At

' any de sired'point along the track, as for ex ample, in a portion passing by a station in `dica-tord at S in Fig. 1, a section 11 isl insulated from the remainder of the third rail as at 13 and 13a, by replacing the usual metallic pin connectors 14 by fibre. pins 1 4".

'ing and signaling control device 15 embodying Vtheinvention is preferably connected to the track system -by detachable plates 16. and

.An automatic train stoppingand restart- I 17." The plate 16 may have suitablev .means f for connecting they track 10 andfthdfthird, vlrailll` to the device 15 through-'conductor wiresl 18 and 19 respectively, and the plate mounted: on'v a anel 2 1'and two7 semaphores structed l to@ form j a unit byfinstalling the mechanism and panel in-'the base of a tower 24 and the semaphofes Aat the top thereof asshown in'Fi "1g-The tow-@P124 andsema- V17 `.connects the insulated section -11,z to the' Asaid device by awire 20.' Y The ,deviee d5 is seen to comprisefav therlswitchingi mechanism;

evce-being preferably con-V and arranged Yto ate in appearance like apparatus 11sedj"in' actual` railway signal work. vThe semaphorescomprisea n and red transparent-window and 2 3'l in the a *erholsingI-Qffh teuer 24 tmbwhich lights 25 and 26 respectively are arranged to show for iashing signals controlled by the device 15. I

The thermostatic switching control mechanism of the device 15 is seen to comprise a current carrying flexure member 27 which is anchored by a terminal screw 29 on a raised -support 30 so that the member 27 is spaced from the rear side of the panel 21. Carried on the free end and on opposite sides of the member 27 are contacts 27a and 27b the former normally being adjusted to connect with a. contact terminal 28 fixed to the rear side of the panel 21. A screw 31 positioned over the anchored end of saidI member 27 is provided for adjusting the latter to its normal position as shown in Fig. 2. The Contact 27b 1s adapted to engage a contact 32a on one side of an overhanging spring'terminal member 32 when the member 27 is flexed out of normal position, the opposite side of said member 32 being provided with a similar contact 32b which is adapted to engage a fixed terminal 33 on a bridging yoke 34 as will hereinafter appear. This yoke 34 is arranged to extend over the free end of member 27 and is secured to the panel 21 by a termlnal screw 37.

To hold the spring terminal member 32 in position, a raised support 35 secured to the panel 21 by a screw 36 is provided for anchoring the fixed end of said member 32.

The terminal screws 29 and 36 and a ground terminal screw4 53 provided adjacent the lower edge of the panel 21 are arranged to pass to the vfront side of the latter and each of said screws has a knurled nut to form binding posts indicated at A, X and B respectively. Any suitable heating means may be provided for effecting the flexure ofmember 27, as for example, a plurality of turns of heater wire 40 Wound over an asbestos or the like insulating covering 41 on said member 27 as shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. One end of the wire 40 is held to 'the fixed end of member 27 by the terminal screw 29, and the other end to a contact sccrew 42 mounted on the rear side ofthe panel adjacent said member 27. The heater wire 40 is cut in and out of circuit by means of a switch blade `43 operated through a in the. tower.

47 riding on the third rail and through the wheels 45 from -the track rails 10. Assume the train to be traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the controlknob 44 of the device 15 rent therein passes from the main line porj tion of the third rail 11, through thelwirc 18 to the binding post A, hence through the member 27 to the contacts '27, and 28, to a jumper 48 having one end connected to the contact 28 and the other end having secured thereto by means of a binding screw 50 a wire 49 which connects with one terminal 26a of the lamp 26, positioned behind the red `colored window 23a in the tower 24. The

other terminal of the lamp 26b is permanently grounded as at G to the structure of the tower 24 as is also one end of another jumper 51 by a screw 52 which holds the panel 21 in place on the tower base as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The other end of the jumper 51 is connectedwith the wire 19 by means of a binding screw 53, thus completing the circuit to the track rails 10 and causing the red light to show in the tower.

On reaching the portion of the track which includes the insulated section 11a, the power circuit to the shoe 47 and the motor 46 is interrupted. The current then Howing to the motor 46 is supplied through wire 19 to binding post A and hence successively through the heater coil 40, contact screw 42, switch blade 43, the yoke 34, the binding post X and wire 20 to the insulated rail section 11a which connects through the shoe47 with the motor 46.

It is apparent that due to the resistance of the heater coil 40 in series with the motor 46,

the power to the latter is materially reduced and the train stops because of insuficient power supply. After a short interval of time the heater coil 40 due to the flow of current heatsthe current carrying member 27 sufficiently to cause -it Ato flex from its normal position.

The movement of member v27 obviously breaks thecircuit at contacts 27a and 28 extinguishing the light 26 behind the red colored window while the contact 27b on the other side of the member 27 engages contact 32a causing the current to flow successively through spring member 32, support 35 to a wire 53a secured thereto by means of binding screw 54, and connecting with one terminal 26a of the lamp 26, the latter being positioned behind the green colored Window 22a The other terminal of the lamp 26 is permanently grounded as at G to `the-structure of the tower 24, from which the A Full voltage iS n ow impressed on the l comotive. motor 46 which automatically restarts the train. After the locomotive passes over the rail section 11a, the member 27 hcools and returns to its initial position, automatically extinguishing the .green andrelighting the red signal.

To make the device 15 inoperative, lthe control knobv 44 is turned to swing the blade 43 under member 27, the blade extension 43 being adapted to retain the member 27 out of its normal position so that the third rail section 11;1L is directly connected to the third' rail 11 and so that the green light shows continuously.

The device 15 may be adapted for useon toy tracks of various standardized voltage ranges as for example from 7 to -12 volts and from l2 to 25 volts. f To make each device 15 suitable for either voltage range, another contact screw may be positioned on the anel 21 in the p th of movement of thebla e 42, and either suitable .resistance 56 may be inserted bet een said screw 55 and the contact screw 42 c nnected to the heater coil 40 as shown in Fi 4, or a second heater coil 40'c1 may be provided, as shown in Fig. 5. The heater coil 40a mayfbe wound alongside coil 40 and has the end thereof connected to the anchor portions of memberm 27 and the other end secured to' contactvscrew 55. By manipulating control knob 44 to swing the blade to Contact with the screws 42, 55 or engages with member 27, a heater for either range may be selectively connected in circuit or the device 15 may. he made ineffective to stop the. train.

'To indicate the setting ofthe control Aknob 44, a pointer 56 movable withthe. latter and suitable markings 57 on the panel 21'may be provided.

From the foregoing description, the advantages of the device and apparatus above described will be at once apparent.

It will benoted that the signal -lamp and the electrical control mechanism for' the lamps and the'stopping and restarting of the train are all assembled and embodied in a -neat and'compact-signalfand switch .tower system, it being simply necessary in some manner to insulate \a section ofthe third rail.

.To this end vsmall fibre pins may be furnished. together with the tower unitrfor re placing the metallic pin connectors, thus making .the matter of connecting the standard electric toy outfit into one having the interesting train and signaling contro tures above described so simple as to per- (iinstallation and operation by the average c 1 It' will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and whichis well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

fea- I As various possible embodiments might be v*made of the above invention, and as various changes might bemade in the embodimentv above setforth, it is to be'understood that all matter herein set forth o r shown in the accompanying drawing isto be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.-

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent z- 1. A toy railroad third rail having an insulated secti-on. ree from\moving parts, an'electrictrain adapt-` said tracks and rail, and means mechanically. independent of said tracks and rail for automatically restarting the train after having stopped on said insulated section.

third rail having an insulated sect-ion free from moving parts, an electric train adapted to operate on and to receive power from said-I tracksl and rail, andmeans mechanically independent of said tracks and rail for automatically restarting the train after havingstopped on said insulated section, and-means for signaling thechanges .in the train opera\ 105 tionr A 3. A toy ,railroad including tracks, a third rail having an insulatedsection free to operate on and to -receive power from said tracks and rail, means mechanically 1ndependent of said tracks and rail for ,autof third rail having an insulated section free' from` moving parts, an electric train adapted to operate on and 'to receive power from sald tracks and rail, .means mechanically independent of said tracks and rail for automatically restarting the, train after haying stopped on said insulated section, the means for signaling the changes .in the train operation, .and a single ctitrol means for making the automatic "restarting 1 and signaling means ineffective. 1 I

5. A toy railroad including tracks, aV

third rail having an insulated section', an' i electric trainadapted to operate on and to includingv tracks a i 'ed to operate on and to receive power from 95 2. A toy railroad including tracks, a.

from moving parts,.an electric train adapted` receive power from said t racks and rail, and means mechanically independent of said tracks and rail for automatically restarting the train after having stopped on said 1nsulated section, said means being electrically controlled and constructed to be operated on power circuits of various ranges of voltage.

6. A toy railroad including tracks, a third rail having an insulated section, an electric train adapted to operate on and to receive power from said tracks and rail, and means mechanically independent of said tracks and rail for automatically restarting the train after having stopped on said insulated section, said means being electrically controlled and constructed to be operated on power circuits of various ranges of voltage, and control means selectively adjustable for operating the device on a given desired range of voltages and for making said first mentioned means ineffective.

7. A toy railroad including tracks, an insulated rail section, an electric train adapted to run over the tracks and rail section, and an automatically operating' control switch including a resistance coil in series with the insulated rail section for reducing the power supplied on passing of the train over said lrail system formed of standard sect1 section and for increasing the power to said section thereafter.

8. A toy railroad including tracks, an insulated rail section, aneleetric train adapted to run over the tracks and rail section, semaphores for signaling the approach and departure of the train to and from said rail section, and an automatically operating control switch for reducing thepower supplied to the insulated rail on passing of the train thercover, for increasing the power to said rail thereafter, and for simultaneously operating the semaphores, said semaphores operated by said switch independently of said rail section.

9. In a toyrailroad, a track .and third rail system formed of standard sections including an insulated third rail section free from moving parts and an electrically operated thermostatic switch for automatically reducing and increasing the power supplied to the insulated railed section on passage ofl a train over said train track and rail y 10. In a toy railroad, a track and third cluding an insulated third rail section free from movlng parts and an electrlcally operated thermostatic switch for automatically reducing and increasing the power supplied to the insulated railed section, and semaphores controlled by said switch for indicaten of the latter, said semald by said switch independentlyof said rail section. f

11. In a toy railroad, a track and third rail system formed of sections of identical construction including an insulated third rail section and an electrically operated thermostatic switch having means for automatlcally controlling the power supplied to the insulated rail section by diminishing and 1ncreasing said supply without entirely cu t ting off same, means cooperating with sald lirst mentioned means for making the switch ineffective.

12. In a toy railroad, a track and third rail system formed of standard sections 1ncluding an insulated third rail section and an, electrically operated thermostatic switch for automatically reducing and increasing the power supplied to the insulated railed section, and control means for making the switch ineffective, and means Jfor selectively controlling the effectiveness of the switch or for varying the circuit to correspond `to different ranges of impressed voltage.

13. In combination an electric toy railway track and third rail system formed of detachable sections of identical construction, and an automatic train stopping and restarting device detachably interconnected with the system, said device including means for varying the power supply without entirely cutting olf same.

14. In combination an electric toy railway track and third rail system formed of detachable sections of identical construction, and an automatic train stopping and restarting device detachably interconnected with the system, said device including means for varying the power Supply without entirely cutting otl' same, and semaphores interconnected with said device for indicating the changes in operation.

l5. In combination a toy electric railway track and third rail system formed of sections of identical construction, a device having meansfor automatically stopping, restarting a train and for signaling the train operation detachably secured to the system, and control means cooperating with said first mentioned means for making the device ineffective.

16. kA toy railway formed of rail sections free from moving parts, and a control'device constructed mechanically independent of said sections for repeatedly stopping and resta "ga train.

17. toy railway formed of rail sections free from moving parts, and a control devlce constructed mechanicallyindependent of said sections for repeatedly stopping and restarting a train, said 'deviceI including semaphores for signaling the stopping and starting operation of the train.

18. A toy railway formed of railfsections free from moving parts, a control device having means constructed mechanically independent of said sections for vrepeatedly stopping and restarting a train, and manual means cooperating with said first mentioned meanssfor maklng the device ineffective.

automatically stopping and restarting a train, saidxdevice lbeing arranged for selective operation onpower supply sources of various ranges of'voltage.

21. In a toy railway,a control device for automatically stopping and restarting a train, said device including means selectively .adjustable to permit operating the device on power circuits offvarious ranges of voltage"and to make tlie'device ineective. 1'

' 22.\In a toy railway, an automatic .electric control device having means to `diminish same for stopping av i automatically stopping 'and `restarting a Without cutting olf train and thereafter to increase the power Supplyior restarting the.

the power supply.

train.

23. In a toy railway, an automatic electric control device having means to diminish the power supplywithout cutting olf same for stopping a trainand thereafter to increase thepowersupply for restarting the train, alnd means `for simultaneously sigi ial ing the changes `in the'train' operation.

" 24. In a toy railway, a control device for train, saiddevice including a flexing switch member cooperating lwith an electrically heated coil, said coil being intermittently -cut in andY out of the power circuit on the operation -of the,'switchgJ 25. In a toy 'electrically'operated railway,

signal lights therefor;- acontrol device coml stall'd visis prisinga iiexingswitch member cooperating with an electrically heated coil, said coil being intermittently cut in and out of the` power circuit on operation of the switch` forautomatically` 'stoppin and "restar 'ifi-g a train, said switch simuA taneously -coiit l1'l thegsignal lights.y

Afcontrol device adaptedl to beinin an electric -toy railway system?" form f i 'a il sections of identical construction comprising a .tower unit having a ther- -mosta'tic switch mounted in the tower base rail section and an electrically operated ther-` mostatic switch for reducing and increasing .the power supplied tothe insulated railed section without entirely cutting off -said sup- .,ply.

28. In a toy. electric railroad, a track, a power suppl means free from moving parts extending a ong and parallel to said track including a section insulated therefrom, and an electrically operated thermostatic switch detachablyl secured to' said means.. for automatically reducing the power supplied to portions of. thetrack. l

l29. An automatic train s topping and restarting device. for a toy'electric railroad comprising an electrically operated thermostatic switch `adapted to ,be connected in eircuit with the power'supplyysaid switch including .a vsingle ieiing member normally adapted to reduce the power supply to a non-A movable portion of the track system vand to stop the train along heatingmeans arranged to'i'ex said member for connecting sa'id portion directly to the powersupply on passage-of the train along train. w

30. -An automatic train stopping, restart-l ing and signaling device foi a toy electric railroad 'comprising an electrically operated tliermostatic switch adapted to be connected in'circui't with thepower supply, said switch including a singlev iiexing member normally adapted to reduce the power supply to a non-movableportion ofthe track system and tostop the train along said portion, a heating'means-arranged to flex said member for connecting said portion directly to the power suppl passage of 'thetrain along said portio` to automatically restart the train, and aflsemaphoreoperated by said iexing member to indicate the normal and iiexed -position thereof. Y

In testimonywhereof I aiiix in si ature. LOUIS AR SO. i

said portion, and av the power .supply therev caused to automatilOOj 

